Tread plate



June Z7,v 1933. o, c, Rrrz woLLER 1,915,695

TREAD PLATE Filed nec. 1v, 192s ,-7 a n i fa /5 @y m v 01,6144 77 7 mv.

lPatented June 27, 1933 PATENroFl-ICE onfvnn c. RITZ wonnen, oF CHICAGO, ILLINOISv i i TREAD PLATE Application filed December 17, 1928. Serial 110.326,425.

My invention relates to tread plates of the typecomprisinga mat furnishing the desired character of bearing surface, a metal plate on which said mat is mounted, and meansl for holding. the mat in operative position. It-is the object of my invention to provide a new and improved form and arrangement of parts in a device of this typewhereby the device can be producedat a moderate cost in a. formfwhich will be acceptable from the standpoint of strength and stiffness, from the standpoint of'length of life of the device, from the standpoint of lease of replacement of the mat in the combination, and from the standpoint of attractiveness of appearance of the completed device.` 'y

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved treadv plate of this type pivotally mounted in'position'for actu-- atingthe accelerator of a motor `car whereby the pressure from the drivers foot can be applied effectively'atany part of the'plate f without the necessity for accurate positionring of the foot at any particular point. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved construction of tread plate of this kind by reason of which the mat may be readily withdrawn from the frame for replacement when desired. It is another obj ect of my invention to improve devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the accompanying drawing and are hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be new and desire to cover by this application is set forth in the claim.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the preferred form of my improved device;

c Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views vtaken respectively at the lines 2 2', 3 3 and 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of construction;

Figs.l 6 and 7 are lvertical sectionalviews taken respectively at the lines 6 6 and 7 7 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a viewfsimilar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of construction.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the samey reference characters, 10, indicates a sheet metal plate of oblong shape, having strengthening ribs 11 pressed downwardly in its top face longitudinally of the plate,

and having flange portions v12 and 13 at .its

sides andl a' flange portion 14 atone end eX- tending upwardly and inwardly aboutthe edges of amat 15 positioned on the plate, such mat y.being preferably formed of rubber or similar material. `In the construction shown, the matll is providedwith longitudinally-extending ribs 16. The mat 15 is held in position by means of a cross bar 17 overlying oneend of the mat 15; and held in position upon the plate 1() by means of screws 18. Y In the form'of device as shown inv Figs. 1 to 4, I have provided means for connecting the tread plate in position for actuating the accelerator of an automobile, such means comprising a metal' plate 19 hingedly coning means comprising sleeve portions formed nected together in the ordinary manner by means of a pintle 20. A coiled spring 21 is mounted on the pintle 20, having one end portion positioned in a groove 22 in the bottom face of the plate 19, and having its other end portion extending through a loop 23 pressed downwardly from the plate 10, the spring serving normally to press the plates 10 and 19 toward each other.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, the flange' portions 12 and 13 are not only formed integrally with the bottom plate 10 but also with the end flange 14, such flange portions comprising a rim extending continuously about substantially the entire periphery of the device. At thepoint where the flangesl 12 and 13 terminate at the pivoted end of `integrally with the plates 10 and 19, conthe tread plate, the plate 17 is provided havloo movable so as to enable the mat to be drawn out for replacement when it becomes worn. By the provision of the strengthening ribs 11, and the provision of the turned flanges 12, 13 and 14 formed integrally about the greater part of the periphery of the plate, a very strong and stiff construction is assured.v By the provision of the spring 21 for pressing the plate 10 toward the plate 19, the tread plate as a whole is kept in snug contact with the accelerator of the car so as to prevent rattling or displacement of the plate.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, a bottom plate 24 is employed, reenforced by strengthening ribs 25 corresponding with the ribs 11 of the construction rst described. The plate 24 is connected to a second plate, in the construction shown, in precisely the same manner as that above described, and the parts are accordingly designated by the same reference characters.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, a mat 15 is employed, held in position by metal rim means which extends downwardly and inwardly about the edge of the mat for holding the mat in position on the plate. In the construction here shown, a metal rim 26 is employed formed separately from the plate 24, such rim having its horizontal flange portions formed integrally with each other about the entire periphery of the device, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5. The rim 26 is preferably in the form of a sheet of aluminum or other comparatively soft metal cut out at its middle portion for receiving the ribs 16 of the mat therethrough, and having its outer edge portion turned downwardly and inwardly about the edge portions of the mat 15 and the plate 24.

In the construction shown in Fig. 8, still another form of device is shown, comprising a bottom plate 27 similar to the bottom plate 10 and accordingly being given corresponding reference numerals. In the construction here shown a rim member 28 similar to the rim member 26 of the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is employed, such rim member 28 extending downwardly and inwardly about the edge portions of the mat 15 and the bottom plate 27 for reenforcing the construction and for improving the appearance of the device.

While I have designed my improved tread plate particularly for use in connection with the accelerator of an automobile, it is to be understood that the invention is not'limited to such use. Moreover, the invention is not to be limited with respect to any of the details of construction except so far as the claim is so limited by reference to the prior art. v

I claim A device of the class described, comprisplate, a mat on said plate, metal rim means extending upwardly and inwardly about the edge of the mat for holding the mat in position on the plate, a second plate hingedly connected with said first named plate at one end OLIVER o. RITZ woLLER.

9o ing in combination a sheet metal bottom 

